Jaago shows street children day of fun in 32 districts

In a bid to promote children's right to quality education and to give street children a day of fun and frolic, Jaago Foundation held awareness campaigns and cultural events in 32 districts yesterday.

About 10,000 youngsters from the foundation's youth wing, Volunteer for Bangladesh, took street children to amusement parks and carnivals organised by the foundation marking Universal Children's Day.

The aim is to give the street children a day of childhood they never had, Muntaka Khan, a young lawyer and volunteer, told The Daily Star at a carnival in the capital's Banani Society field.

Several hundred children, who sell flowers, candies or simply beg for food in the capital's traffic intersections, received yellow shirts, food, medical checkups and necessary medication provided by Renata and Beximco pharmaceuticals while The Daily Star provided strategic partnership.

Visiting the event, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Gibson said he was "deeply impressed by what Jaago has been doing for the children across the country. The volunteers are doing amazing work and I believe these young people will bring more positive changes to the country."

Founder of Jaago Korvi Rakshand Dhrubo said, "We have been working on providing quality education for children for nine years. I am glad that the United Nations has included quality education as the fourth sustainable development goal."